SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. —Aristotle philosophized about the importance of ethos, logos and pathos.

The Rockies certainly have the logo — a C intertwined with an R on the team cap. Last season they definitely had the pathos, losing 89 games.

Absent, though, was the ethos — a culture of wisdom, virtue, pride, strong work habits and skill. It was all Greek to the Rox in 2011.

GM Dan O’Dowd and manager Jim Tracy have made it clear that the clubhouse culture will be changed this year. Last year was about moaning, meetings and misanthropes.

So I went looking for ethos in the clubhouse at Talking Stick.

I found a senior citizens center — Michael Cuddyer and Casey “At The Bat” Blake side by side on one side of the man cavern, Jason Giambi and Marco Scutaro next to each other several feet away. Four quality veterans, with a combined 13 teams, 50 seasons (and multiple postseasons) behind them in the big leagues.

Minutes later, in walked Jamie Moyer, and I thought the five would break out the shuffleboard. Add 24 more years and seven more teams.

They bring ethos.

The Rockies don’t want Bolshevik Ballet, but businesslike baseball.

These are professional players, not that Cotton Candy Corps the Rockies put on the field last year.

Let’s be straight here. Chris Iannetta had become a pain in the box because his batting average stunk; Ian Stewart was a waste of time; Seth Smith was a nice guy who should be playing cricket as a left-handed batsman hitting sweepshots; Aaron Cook had lost his resolve; Huston Street had lost his out pitch; Ubaldo Jimenez had lost his way; Ty Wigginton and Jose Lopez didn’t fit or hit; and other Rockies from a season ago were just hanging on or passing through.

The Rockies weren’t returning to the postseason on a hope and a slide, and bad vibes and immaturity.

O’Dowd stood outside on a deck behind the press box one day in July and railed about how change was going to come. He traded Jimenez soon after.

It’s possible this spring in a Cactus League game utilizing the DH, the Rockies could start six players who were born in the 1970s, and Moyer, born in the ’60s. They could have four infielders (including Troy Tulowitzki at 27), the catcher, the pitcher and the right fielder with an overall average age of 37.

Most awful teams go into rebuild mode. The Rockies believe they have a “transition” team, not a transient team.

The plan is to employ the experienced elders until the youngsters mature. “Our beliefs aren’t any different now. In our situation (as a mid-market franchise) we have to develop our own talent,” co-owner Dick Monfort. “But it’s going to take awhile. We needed some veterans.”

The Rockies don’t possess a star-quality second baseman in the minors, but Trevor Story (19), drafted No. 1 in 2011 as a shortstop, could move over. The Rox will have Tulo witzki for another decade.

Nolan Arenado (20) will be the third baseman of the near future, and Wilin Rosario (23) is the backup catcher today and the starter soon. Carlos Gonzalez (26) and Dexter Fowler (26) will take up two-thirds of the outfield, and Cuddyer (on a three-year deal) will be in right until 2014 and, presumably, move to first when Helton retires.

Blake, Scutaro and Giambi have one-year contracts. With Hernandez and Helton, those five are supposed to keep the Rox in contention and share their knowledge.

The old-timers are still in the game because they can play the game and know the game. And, in conversations with all of them, it was obvious that they understand their responsibility. Tulo can’t be the only leader in the clubhouse.

Moyer is a prime example of the new culture. “If a young pitcher or position player shows me bad body language and attitude during a game, I’ll wait a couple of days, go up to him in the clubhouse and suggest we take a walk or throw in the outfield. Then we’ll talk about it, and I’ll make a few suggestions. When I was young, that’s what older guys did for me.”

Advice: No more pouting, whining, slamming your helmet and sucking your thumb. Act and play like a pro, kid.

WASHINGTON — Thirty games into the 82-game NHL season, and nearly six weeks after the Matt Duchene trade, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic discussed the state of his team before Tuesday’s 5-2 loss at the Washington Capitals.